Grading machine



Feb. 10, 1942. J. w. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1939 Feb. 10, 1942. J. w. JOHNSTON 2,272,671

GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

Feb. 10, 1942. v J, w, JOHNSTON 2,272,671

GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 l v James M cfoizms'iom Feb. 10, 1942. J. w. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 am n M 5% 0 wmwwza Feb. 10, 1942. J. w. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. W. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE Feb. 10, 1,942.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 14, 1939 Jam/es Zac/o firwi'bm Feb. 10, 1942. J. w. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1939 '7, Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb. 19, 1%42 GRADING MACHINE [application December 14, 1939, Serial No. 309,112

18 Claims.

This invention relates to grading machines of the kind which grade leather soles and similar blanks in accordance with the thickness of the thinnest spot of the blank or of a predetermined area of the blank as determined by the detector or measuring device.

The invention is applicable to grading machines generally and the expression grading means or mechanism as herein used (unless limited expressly or by the context to some particular kind of grading mechanism) is used in the generic sense established in this art and includes marking devices, visual indicators, evening devices and sorting devices.

For the purpose of illustration, however, the invention will be shown in two embodiments, one applied to a grading machine used for marking of the character described in the Johnston Patent No. 1,963,850, dated June 19, 1934, and the other applied to a grading machine used for visual indicating of the character described in the Cogswell Patent No. 1,686,487, dated October 2, 1928. Since the general characteristics of such machines are well known it Will only be necessary to describe herein such parts as will aid in an understanding of the present invention.

For use in shoe making it is sometimes desirable to classify unevened cut soles according to their suitability for different purposes and at the same time to grade them in a manner appropriate to such purposes. For example, in that method of making shoes in which the inner sole is formed by splitting oil a skeletonized inner sole from the margin of one side of the outer sole, leaving an opening or void in the middle region of the inner sole, the cut sole before it is evened down to the thickness of its thinnest area and before the inner sole is split oii, must have a predetermined minimum thickness or grade measurement throughout approximately its whole length because the skeletonized inner sole is to be split off from the Whole length of the sole including the shank and heel parts as well as the forepart, and the whole sole throughout its length must therefore have suitable body or thickness for that purpose. To illustrate, a sole having a minimum grade measurement throughout its length greater than seven irons may be the lightest or thinnest sole suitable for the requirements or the preference of the shoe manufacturer in practicing the method referred to.

On the other hand, soles having a minimum grade measurement of seven irons or less are suitable for other purposes, and for such other purposes the grade measurement of the heel or Holding Corporation,

shank part, or both, may be disregarded as immaterial and the grade of the sole may be determined by the grade measurement of the forepart only. In such case, if the sole is measured and graded throughout its entire length it might happen that although the forepart of the sole measures a minimum or six or seven irons for example, the sole is graded as a thinner sole, for example a five iron sole, due to a thin area in the heel or shank. This is wasteful and costly since the grade of the heel and shank is immaterial for the purpose intended and the sole is entitled to receive the higher rating of its forepart, which is all that matters for the intended use of the sole.

It will be understood that a batch of unevened soles coming to a grading machine commonly contains miscellaneous and varying grades or thicknesses of soles, and soles which are uneven from end to end. In order to classify such soles with regard to their full length grades, to determine whether they belong in the group of thicker soles (more than seven irons throughout, in the assumed example) or in the group of thinner soles (seven irons or less at some place, in the assumed example), and also to grade the soles of the thinner class according to the grade of a selected area only, for example the forepart or ball of the sole, it would be possible with existing machines first to measure and grade all soles throughout their lengths and then to sort out those falling below the minimum predetermined thickness and remeasure and regrade those as to the forepart only, either by machine or by hand. To illustrate such procedure, a sole first measured and graded as to its full length might show five or six irons, which means that there is some spot or area only five or six irons thick. This sole then might be measured and graded again as to its forepart only, omitting the heel and shank, and it might turn out that the forepart has a minimum measurement of seven irons, showing that the thin spot, five or six irons, which disqualifiies the sole for the thicker class, is in the heel or shank. Since the grade of the heel and shank of such a sole is to be disregarded, the second measurement and grading of the forepart only shows that the sole rates as a seven iron sole in the thinner class. Thus, although it is possible to obtain the desired information and to classify and grade soles of the thicker class and soles of the thinner class, each in a manner appropriate to its intended use, this can be done with present machinery only by grading all soles of the thinner class twice, which entails such an increased cost of time and money as to render the procedure objectionable or commercially impracticable.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will eliminate the necessity of such double grading and will furnish the desired classification and grade the soles of each class in a manner appropriate to that class, all in a single operation as the soles pass successively through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive show the invention applied to the type of grading machine described in said Johnston patent, and Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive show the invention applied to the type of grading machine described in said Cogswell patent.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of parts of a grading machine of said Johnston type containing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, as viewed in the direction of the arrow applied to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a part of the supplemental ratchet segment and ratchet shield hereinafter described, as viewed in the direction of the arrow applied to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the supplemental ratchet and shield removed;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of said ratchet shield;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the supplemental ratchet segment hereinafter described;

Fig. 9 is an elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of a grading machine of said Cogswell type containing the invention;

Fig. 10 is a partial vertical section on line HJI of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view on line l|ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an elevation of certain parts of Fig. 10 as viewed in the direction of the arrow an applied to Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the bracket attachment for supporting the supplemental startgrading pawl hereinafter described; and

Fig. 14 is a detail of a push bar hereinafter described.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive will be first described.

The soles S which are to be graded are stacked in a magazine or hopper l0, Fig. 1, and are fed forward from the bottom of the stack one at a time by an intermittently operated feeding mechanism of known construction, including a link I I and a crank arm 12. The feeding mechanism advances the soles one at a time from the bottom of the stack, heel end foremost, and delivers each into the bite of a pair of feeding and measuring rolls l3 and M which are continuously driven as usual. As the forward end of each sole emerges from between the rolls 1?; and M it engages a trip arm or lever l5, Fig. 2, which forms a part of a cam 16 pivotally mounted at I! on the frame of the machine. In its forward movement the sole swings the arm l and cam l6 thereby causing the cam IE to raise a pivoted arm l8 and a weighted rod l9 pivotally suspended from the free end of arm l3, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

As the sole emerges from between rolls [3 and I4 it also passes into position between a presser bar 20 and a traveling endless conveyor chain 2|, which latter propels the blank through the machine in the usual way.

As the sole advances, its leading end engages and raises a trip 22 depending from and adjustable on an arm 23 which is fast on a transversely disposed rock shaft 26. Fixed to the outer end of this rock shaft 24 is an arm 25, Figs. 1 and 2, to the free end of which is pivotally connected the upper end of a weighted rod 26. The lower end of the rod 26 normally holds the usual start-grading pawl 21 out of engagement with its ratchet segment 28, but when the rod 26 is thus lifted by the advancing sole the pawl 21 drops by gravity upon its ratchet 28. No minimum measurements are preserved by the pawl 21 until a predetermined length of the sole has passed through rolls l3, I l and trip 22 is lifted, at which time a selected part of the sole, for example the forepart or ball, is entering the measuring rolls. The region whose minimum measurement is thus to be preserved may be varied by adjusting the trip 22 lengthwise of the arm 23. The trip 22, the pawl and ratchet 27, 28 and the mechanism connecting the trip to the pawl constitute the usual controlling mechanism associated with the transmitting mechanism to preserve the minimum measurement which is to be transmitted to the grading means.

As the sole advances farther its leading end engages and depresses the trip arm 29, which causes the automatic operation of the marking or stamping wheel 39 and also initiates a single rotation of crank arm I 2 of the feeding mechanism, all in the usual way. Thus, the depression of the trip 29 results in the sole being stamped or marked according to the setting of the marking wheel and also causes the next succeeding sole to be fed forward from the magazine Ill. The first sole is carried forward and discharged from the machine by the conveyor chain 2!.

The lower measuring or detecting roll I4 is yieldingly supported and yields downwardly upon the entrance of a sole between the rolls l3 and I4 and responds to variations in thickness of the sole as it passes between the rolls. The vertical displacement of the measuring roll l4 acts through the usual transmitting mechanism to adjust the grading means, in the present instance the marking wheel 38. Part of said transmitting mechanism rotatively adjusts the shaft 36 on which the ratchet wheel 31 is fixed, and the rotative adjustment of shaft 36 acts through another part of the usual transmitting mechanism to adjust the usual slide 38, by which the marking wheel is rotatively adjusted according to the thickness of the thinnest measurement as determined by the measuring roll [4 and preserved by the controlling mechanism.

When the advance end of the sole raises the trip 22 and rocks the shaft 24 an arm 39 fixed to shaft 24, Figs. 2 and 3, is swung upwardly in a direction away from a roller 40 which is carried at the end of a lever 41, thereby premitting a spring 42, Fig. 1, to lower the usual gate on to the top of the passing sole. When the rear end of the sole passes from beneath the gate 45, the gate drops by gravity, assisted by the spring 42, and acts to throw the usual stop-grading pawl 43 into engagement with the ratchet segment 44 on the ratchet wheel 31.

The parts thus far described and their mode of operation (excepting trip lever l5 and the mechanisms controlled thereby) may be of usual and known construction and mode of operation, and

a more detailed description of them, and of certain other mechanisms associated therewith which are well known and are not herein shown, will not be necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

According to the present invention a second controlling mechanism is combined with the first and with the grading means in the manner now to be described.

The ratchet segment 28 of the usual controlling mechanism, Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, is fastened in usual position to the web of a wheel 3'! by means of two screws 45 which occupy threaded apertures in said web. A supplemental ratchet segment 4'! is also fastened to the wheel 31 in a position alongside the usual ratchet segment 28 by means of the same two screws 45. Associated with the supplemental ratchet segment -i'i-is a supplemental start-grading pawl 43, pivotally mounted on stud M which also carries the usual start-grading pawl 27. The supplemental pawl 48 is made with a tailpiece 59 which extends under the lower end of the weighted vertically movable rod is.

The supplemental segment 47 is made with a pair of ears 5i formed with apertures 52 to receive the ends of screws t6, the holes 52 being somewhat larger than the screws so that the supplemental segment can be adjusted to a limited extent in any direction on the web of wheel 3?.

Nuts on the screws 38 clamp the supplemental segment in its adjusted position.

A ratchet shield 56 is clamped to one side of the supplemental ratchet segment 41 by means of screws 55. The shield 56 has a salient arcuate portion 57, coincident with or just above the tops of the teeth of the supplemental ratchet segment 4?, another portion of the peripheral surface of the shield 55 being recessed to leave the ratchet teeth unobstructed. The shield is also formed with arcuate slots 58 which provide for adjustment or" the shield angularly on the ratchet segment so that the inner end 59 of the salient or shielding part may be positioned as desired with relation to the teeth of the supplemental ratchet.

The operation of the machine is as follows. Let it be assumed that it is to be determined which of the soles have a minimum grade measurement of more than seven irons everywhere throughout their length (e. g. a measurement of seven and one-half irons or more) and that such soles are to be marked (graded) in accordance with the thinnest part found; and that all other soles having minimum measurements of seven irons or less somewhere in their length are to be marked (graded) in accordance with thethinnest part of a selected area only, for example the forepart or ball of the sole.

The ratchet shield 5% is then adjusted and set so that the salient or shielding surface 5'! shields all of the ratchet teeth on ratchet segment 47 corresponding to thickness measurements of less than seven irons.

It will be understood that the adoption of seven irons as a dividing line between the two classes of soles is for the purpose of illustration only and that some other measurement than seven irons might be selected, in which case the shield 53 would be adjusted to shield the ratchet teeth corresponding to the range of the supplemental ratchet to be blanked out.

When a sole enters the machine its first action upon the emergence of its advance end from between the feeding and measuring rolls l3, M, is

to swing trip lever i5 and cam 16 and thereby lower the supplemental pawl 58 upon the supplemental ratchet segment i! or the shield surface 51, as the case may be. The swinging cam-arm it, I5, is yieldingly held in its normal position by a spring 6|, Fig. 3, and carries an adjustable stop screw 63 which rests against the frame of the machine.

If the sole throughout its length has a minimum thickness of more than seven irons the pawl 38 will engage the unobstructed part of the ratchet segment ll and the measurement and grading will proceed in the usual way; and when the blank or sole reaches and lifts the trip 22 the regular start-grading pawl 2! will be lowered into its ratchet segment 28, but no change in operation will result therefrom since the two pawls will merely act in conjunction (unless a thinner measurement, less than seven irons, is encountered, in which case the pawl 48 will ride up on the shield and the grading will be controlled by the pawl 2? alone).

If however the sole has an area somewhere in its length of seven irons thickness or less, that fact will be determined and the sole will also be graded as to a predetermined part of its area, such as the forepart of the sole, in the manner now to be explained. If the thin spot of seven irons or less is in the advance end of the sole, which is the heel and shank part, the supplemental pawl 28 when lowered will rest on the shield surface 5? and therefore be inoperative to lock the supplemental start-grading ratchet i7, and as the heel and shank part of the sole move forward between the measuring rolls i 3 and M variations in thickness will merely cause the ratchet segment ii to move back and forth idly while the supplemental pawl &3 slides on the shield surface 57, unless a thickness is encountered as great as seven irons, whereupon the pawl 48 will engage the first tooth of the ratchet segment H beyond the shielding surface 57 and lock the segment against movement in response to thicker measurements. When the heel and shank part of the sole have passed the measuring rolls I3, I i, and the advance end of the sole lifts the trip 22, the regular start-grading pawl 21 is lowered into its ratchet segment 28 and thereafter, as the forepart of the sole (which is the trailing end) passes between the measuring rolls, each successive thinner measurement in the forepart will be determined and preserved by the pawl 27 notwithstanding the pawl 43 may be riding on the shield.

Thus, if the heel or shank part has a place measuring as low as seven irons or less that fact will be determined because the supplemental pawl 48 upon slipping on" the shield will first engage the seven iron tooth of the ratchet and will not record any greater measurement, indicating that there was a spot or area at least as thin as seven irons. The actual minimum measurement of that region is not material so long as it is shown that there is an area at least as thin as seven irons, which disqualifies the piece for the thicker class above mentioned. When the ball or forepart of the sole enters between the measuring rolls and the regular start-grading pawl 2'! goes into action, the grade measurement from that point on will proceed under the control of pawl 21, notwithstanding the pawl it may be riding idly on the shield.

It will be clear that after the trailing end of the sole has passed the swinging trip arm I5 and released the arm, permitting it to return to its normal position, thereby lifting the supplemental pawl 48 to inoperative position, the pawl 21 will continue to hold the ratchet wheel 3'! in its adjusted position until the trailing end of the sole clears the trip 22. When the sole passes beyond the trip 22 the latter falls and acts through the usual mechanism to disengage both pawls 21 and 43 from the ratchet wheel 31.

The above described improvement may be permanently embodied in a grading machine or applied as an attachment to a grading machine of the character disclosed in said Johnston patent by merely adding a few parts thereto without material alteration of the existing machine. Moreover, if it is not desired to use the supplemental controlling devices in the grading of any particular lot of soles they may be rendered inoperative and the machine may be otherwise restored to its old mode of operation by merely disconnecting spring BI and swinging the cam arm I6, I5, into a position outside of arm I8.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 14 showing the invention applied to a machine for visually indicating grade measurements of the type described in said Gogswell patent, the soles S are stacked in a magazine 10 and are automatically fed from the bottom of the stack, heel and foremost, by the usual intermittently operated feeding mechanism including a link 'II and crank arm '12. During the first part of the movement of the feedin mechanism the gate trip '53 is lifted to permit the passage of the sole to the continuously driven measuring and feeding rolls 14, I5. As soon as the sole is under the gate trip I3 the latter falls and rests on top of the passing sole. The same action which raises the gate 13 withdraws the stop-grading pawl 16 from its ratchet wheel 11, Figs. 10 and 12, in the usual manner.

The visual indicator comprises a dial 18, showing a scale in terms of irons, and a pointer 19 traversing the scale and fixed to a rotatable shaft 80. Two ratchet wheels I! and 83 are also secured to the shaft 80. At the outer end of shaft 80 is also fixed a pinion 8|, Fig. 10, in mesh with the usual rack (not shown) on the upper end of a rod 82, Fig. 9. The lower end of rod 82 is provided with a rack in mesh with a gear segment on the end of arm 04. Arm 84 is fast on rock shaft 85. Also fast on rock shaft 85 are arms 86 which are connected to the lower measuring roll I5 through rods 81. When a sole enters between the two measuring rolls 14, I5 the latter roll is depressed against the pressure of a spring 88, Fig. 9, and acts through rods 87, arms 86, arm 84, rod 82 and pinion BI to rotate the two ratchet wheels 11 and 83 and the pointer 19 in a clockwise direction.

The usual controlling mechanism for machines of this type to preserve the minimum measurement includes the start-grading pawl 89 which is normally held out of engagement with its ratchet 83 by an arm 90 which is actuated by the horizontal arm 9|. Depending from arm SI and adjustable lengthwise thereof is a trip 92 in the form of a roller in the path of the blank.

The parts thus far described may be of known construction and for a more detailed description thereof reference may be had to said Cogswell patent.

Combined with the foregoing is a second or supplemental controlling device now to be described. J ournaled in a bearing provided at one side of the machine, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, is a countershaft 93, the inner end of which extends over the bed plate 94 of the machine and is provided with a depending trip arm 95 which is close to the measuring rolls I4, 15, and in the path of the soles as they emerge from between the measuring rolls. The lower end of the trip 05 normally occupies a position within a longitudinal slot 96, Fig. 10, in the bed plate 94. The shaft 93 carries a cam 91 which acts against a shoulder 98 provided on a push bar 99.

One end of the bar 99 is provided with a slot I00 through which the shaft 93 extends and the other end of the bar is pivotally connected at IOI with a supplemental start-grading pawl I02, whose upper free end is associated with a sector of ratchet wheel 83. A spring I03 yieldingly urges the bar 99 toward shaft 03 and tends to move the supplemental pawl I02 toward the ratchet 83.

The supplemental pawl I02 is pivotally mounted at I00 upon a bracket I05. One end of the bracket I05 is made with an aperture through which the shaft 93 extends to support the bracket at that end and the opposite end of said bracket is made with a depending yoke I00, which embraces the upper margin of a member I01 constituting part of the frame of the machine. A vertical screw I08 threaded through the top of the yoke serves to regulate the height of the yoke end of bracket I05 and a horizontal screw I09 threaded through the side of the yoke serves to clamp the yoke fixedly to the frame. By adjusting the screw I08 it is possible to position the upper end of the supplemental pawl I02 in proper relation to the ratchet wheel 83. A spring H0 connected with an arm III fixed to the outer end of shaft 93 normally holds said arm against a stop H2 on the frame of the machine with the trip 95 yieldingly occupying its lowermost position in close proximity to the bite of the measuring rolls 14, I5.

Upon the outer side face of ratchet wheel 03 is provided a ratchet shield II3 having an apertured hub which is loosely fitted upon the end of shaft but is securely clamped to the outer face of the ratchet 03 by means of the usual nut II 4 by which the ratchet wheels and pointer are clamped to the shaft 80. The periphery of the shield I I3 is coincident with or slightly higher than the teeth of ratchet 83 so that when supplemental pawl I02 rests against the shield it is held out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet. The shield H3 is formed with an arouate slot II5 through which passes a set screw II6 to provide additional means for holding the shield against displacement and also to permit angular adjustment of the shield relative to the ratchet. In this way th upper end of the shield I I3 may be positioned relatively to a selected one of the teeth of the ratchet 83.

The operation of the machine shown in Figs. 9 to 14, which is similar in principle to that of the other machine, is as follows. Assuming the same conditions as were assumed in connection with explaining the other machine, the ratchet shield H3 is adjusted and set so that it shields and prevents engagement of the supplemental start-grading pawl I02 with all of the ratchet teeth corresponding to thickness measurements of less than seven irons.

When a sole is first started forward into the machine the gate trip 13 is raised to admit the sole and at the same time the stop-grading pawl '10 is disengaged from its ratchet ll. The pointer I0 is now free to move in either direction since at this time the controlling pawls 89 and I02 are disengaged. Immediately after the entry of the sole under the trip gate 13 the latter falls and rests on top of the sole thereby still holding the pawl 76 disengaged so long as a sole is under the trip gate 73. The sole then enters between the measuring rolls 14 and 15 and immediately upon the emergence of its advance end from between the measuring rolls it engages and swings the trip 95 of the supplemental controlling mechanism toward the right as indicated by the arrow on Fig. 9. This movement acts through cam 91 and bar 99 to cause the supplemental startgrading pawl I02 to engage its segment of the ratchet 83 or the shield H3, as the case may be.

If the measurements of the sole are less than seven irons the pawl I02 will ride on the shield I 13. If the measurements are seven irons or more the pawl I02 will engage the ratchet 83. When the sole reaches and lifts the trip 92 the regular start-grading pawl 89 will be caused to engage its segment of ratchet 83 and grade that part of the trailing end of the blank, for example the forepart of the sole, which thereafter passes through the measuring rolls.

When the trailing end of the blank passes out from under gate trip 13 the latter falls to the bed plate thereby causing the stop-grading pawl 76 to engage its ratchet T! and so looking the indicator in its final adjusted position. When the sole passes clear of the feeding and measuring rolls 74, 15, it comes to rest and so remains until manually removed by the operator. After reading the indicator the operator pulls the sole out from the machine thus releasing the trips 95 and 92 to return to their normal positions and to disengage pawl 55 and supplemental pawl I32 from their respective segments of ratchet wheel 83. The drop of trip 92 also acts through the usual automatic mechanism to operate the feeding mechanism and advance another sole from the magazine l into the machine and the above described cycle of operations is repeated.

Thus it will be seen that in each embodiment of the invention there is associated with the grading means not only the usual controlling mechanism operated by the blank, including a pawl and ratchet for preserving the minimiun measurement of a predetermined length of the trailing part of the blank, but also a second or supplemental controlling mechanism including a supplemental pawl and ratchet operated by the blank in advance of the regular controlling mechanism and therefore during the passage of a different part of the blank through the measuring rolls; and that the ratchet shield associated with the supplemental ratchet renders the supplemental controlling means inoperative to preserve the measurement of any area of the blank which is less than the predetermined thickness. Hence a selected length of the advance or leading part of the blank may or may not be graded depending on whether the minimum thickness is greater or less than a predetermined measurement and if less than such thickness that fact will be indicated, While a selected length of the trailing part of the blank will be graded notwithstanding the supplemental controlling pawl may be riding on the shield.

I claim:

1. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be tripped by the blank being graded during the passage through the measuring means of different areas of the blank to render the grading means effective and one of said mechanisms including means for rendering it inoperative during its measurement of that portion of the area so measured which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

2. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be tripped by the blank being graded during the passage through the measuring means of different areas of the blank to render the grading means effective, and means to render one of said controlling mechanisms inoperative during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

3. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be tripped by the blank being graded during the passage through th measuring means of difierent areas of the blank to render the grading means effective, one controlling mechanism being adapted to be rendered effective only during the measurement of a selected area of the blank, and the other controlling mechanism being adapted to be rendered effective during the measurement of a different selected area which is of greater than a predetermined thickness, and said last-named mechanism including means which renders it inoperative during the measurement of that portion of such area which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

4. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be successively tripped by the blank being graded at different times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, and means to render on of said control mechanisms inoperative during the measurement of an area of less than a predetermined thickness.

5. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism includin a blank engaging means adapted to be successively encountered by the blank being graded at difierent times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, and means to render the first or" said controlling mechanisms encountered by the blank inoperative during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

6. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be successively tripped by the blank being graded at different times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, one of said controlling mechanisms being oper ated during the measurement of approximately the full length of the blank and the other of said controlling mechanisms being operated during the measurement of a predetermined length of the trailing end of the blank, the first named controlling mechanism including means to render it inoperative during the measurement of an area of less than a predetermined thickness.

'7. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means adapted to be successively operated by the blank being graded at diirerent times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl and a trip in the path of the blank for actuating the pawl, one trip being positioned in advance of the other, means to prevent the pawl of the controlling mechanism first encountered from engaging its ratchet during the measurement of an area in the advance end of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness but to permit its engagement during the m asur ment of an area which is of greater than a predetermined thickness, and means to cause the engagement of the pawl of the other controlling mechanism with its ratchet only after a predetermined length of said advance end has passed through the measuring means.

8. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be successively engaged by the blank during its passage through the measuring means, one of said controlling mechanisms being operated during the measurement of approximately the full length of the blank and the other of said controlling mechanisms being operated during the measurement of a predetermined length of the trailing end of the blank, and means to render the first controlling mechanism inoperative during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

9. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be engaged by the blank being graded during the passage through the measuring means of diiierent areas of the blank to render the grading means efiective, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl, and a ratchet shield for one ratchet to prevent the engagement of its pawl with a selected part of such ratchet.

10. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be engaged by the blank being graded during the passage through the measuring means of diiferent areas of the blanks to render the grading means effective, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl, and a ratchet shield adjustably secured to one ratchet to prevent the engagement of its pawl with a selected part of such ratchet.

11. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be successively engaged by the blank being graded at different times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl, and a ratchet shield for one ratchet to prevent the engagement of its pawl with a selected part of such ratchet.

12. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be successively engaged by the blank being graded at different times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl, and a ratchet shield for the ratchet of the first of said controlling devices encountered by the blank to prevent the engagement of its pawl with a selected part of such ratchet corresponding with the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

13. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means adapted to be successively operated by the blank being graded at different times during the passage of the blank through the measuring means, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl and a trip in the path of the blank for actuating the pawl, one of said trips being positioned to be operated by the blank after a predetermined length of the blank has passed through the measuring means and the other of said trips being positioned to be operated by the blank in advance of the first, and a ratchet shield to prevent the operation of the latter trip by the blank from rendering its pawl and ratchet eiiective during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

14. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms associated with the grading means each controlling mechanism including a blank engaging means adapted to be engaged during the passage through the measuring means of different areas of the blank being graded, each controlling mechanism including a ratchet and pawl, one ratchet being detachably fastened to the other, and a ratchet shield adjustably and removably secured to one ratchet to prevent the engagement of its pawl with a selected part of such ratchet.

15. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms combined with the transmitting mechanism to govern the transmission to the grading means of certain of the determinations of the measuring means, said two controlling mechanisms each including means adapted to be operated by the blank being graded during the passage through the measuring means of difierent areas of the blank to render the grading means efiective and one of said controlling mechanisms including means to render it inoperative during the measurement of an area less than a predetermined thickness.

16. A grading machine comprising measuring means, adjustable grading means, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the grading means, and two controlling mechanisms combined with the transmitting mechanism to govern the transmission to the grading means of certain of the determinations of the measuring means, said two controlling mechanisms each including means adapted to be operated by the blank being graded during the passage through the measuring means of diilerentareas of the blank to render the grading means efiective, and means to render one of said controlling mechanisms inoperative during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness.

17. A grading machine comprising measuring means, an adjustable marker, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means are transmitted to the marker, and two controlling mechanisms, each including a ratchet, a pawl and a trip in the path of the blank said tripping being engaged by the blank to actuate the pawl, and a ratchet shield for one ratchet to prevent one pawl from engaging its ratchet during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness but to permit its engagement during the measurement of an area which is of greater than a predetermined thickness, and means to cause the engagement of the other pawl with its ratchet during the measurement of a selected part only of the blank.

18. A grading machine comprising measuring means, a visual indicator, transmitting mechanism by which determinations of the measuring means ar transmitted to the indicator, and two controlling mechanisms each including a ratchet, a pawl and a trip in the path of the blank said tripping being engaged by the blank to actuate the pawl, each ratchet consisting of a different segment of a common ratchet wheel, and a ratchet shield for one of said ratchet segments to prevent one pawl from engaging its ratchet segment during the measurement of an area of the blank which is of less than a predetermined thickness but to permit its engagement during the measurement of an area which is of greater than a predetermined thickness, and means to cause the engagement of the other pawl with its ratchet segment during the measurement of a selected part only of the blank.

JAMES w. JOHNSTON. 

